Lever action toy gun with selective trigger actuator



J. w. RYAN 3,101,703

3 Sheets-Sheet l ffm/14% Aug. 27, 1963 LEVER ACTION Toy GUN WITH SELECTIVE TRIGGER ACTUATOR Filed Dec. 1l, 1959 J. w. RYAN 3,101,703 LEVER ACTION Toy GUN WITH sELEcTIvE TR1GGER- AcTUAToR Aug. 27, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

JOHN n. RYAN, INVENTOR m WN NN um NNN wN.

J. W. RYAN Aug. 27, 1963 LEVER ACTION TOY GUN WITH SELECTIVE TRIGGER ACTUATOR Filed Dec. 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3,101,703 LEVER ACTHN TY GUN WITH SELECTIV E TRIGGER ACTUATOR John W. Ryan, 11027 Cashmere Drive, Bel-Air, Calif. Filed Dec. 1l, 1959, Seli'.v No. 853,969 17 Claims. (Cl. 124-2) This invention relates to a toy gun and moreparticularly to a toy gun simulating a `riile having a lever action for advancing cap rolls therein, cooking the hammer thereof, and ejecting simulated cartridges outwardly of the housing thereof in realistic fashion. p

This application is the continuation-impart of my copending application for a Lever Action Toy Gun, Serial No. 762,441, iiled September 22, 1958. The instant application is concerned more particularly with an improvement including means provided on the lever of the toy rifle and selectively positionable thereon for automatically actuating the trigger means of the rifle, when the lever is 'returned into a normal position adjacent to the housing thereof,` thereby to selectively, automatically actuate the cap-iring means of the rifle to explode a cap to simulate a ianning action for more realistic play.

In general, the invention comprises a hollow housing simulating a rifle in its outward appearance, having a breech portion, a forwardly-extending cylindrical barrel portion and a stock or handle portion. Door means are provided on the side cfr-the breech portion to normally cover an opening; the door means is yie-ldably mounted to facilitate manual insertion of one o-r more simulated cartridges into the barrel portion for subsequent selective ejection outwardly of the housing as through an opentop of the breechportion. Means are provided adjacent the barrel portion for releasably retaining the last of the inserted cartridges until released therefrom by ejector means operatively associated with a lever means pivotally mounted in the housing.` A breech cover means is slideably mounted on the housing for selective covering and uncovering of the open top of the housing and is actuated by means operatively associated with the lever means when the lever means is actuated.

The housing is further provided with a cap-tiring means for successively firing caps of a cap roll stored on a cap roll support and extended over an intermittently rotatable anvil means. Hammer means are provided adjacent the anvil means :and adapted to be cocked into a tiring position by the lever means, whereby the hammer means is latched in the ring position by a hook integral with a manually operable `trigger means mounted in the housing and having a linger piece extending outwardly thereof.

Arcuate motion of the trigger means, las imparted by a digit of lthe users hand, unlatches the hammer means which is spring urged to strike the anvil means. Pavvl means are further provided pivotally secured to the hammer means and operatively associated with the anvil means for intermittently rotating the anvil means and thereby advancing the cap roll to position a succeeding cap for detonation Vby the hammer means.

The breech cover means is preferably formed of `discrete members, one manually slideable over the other, to further expose the lopen top whereby the cap roll support means may be manually rotated outwardly of the housing for reloading purposes.

A second pawl means is pivotally mounted `on the lever means and positionable into trigger-engaging and triggerclearing positions. When in the trigger-engaging posi- United States Patent O ICC tion, the pawl engages the trigger means `of the rifle to actuate the trigger 4when the lever is returned adjacent to the housing for automatically causing the cap tiring means to fire a cap in response to the return pivotal movement of the ylever tor :automatic fanning action of the rifle. Also, when the lever is in its position adjacent to the housing the trigger is retained in a hammer-clearing posij tion whereby the hammer itself may be manually tanned to independently operate the cap-tiring means. Furthermore, when the pawl is ina trigger-clearing position, the rifle may be operated in its normal, :above-described manner.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved lever action toy gun which realistically simulates a lever-action rifle for use by juveniles to afford greater realism in play.

More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a new land improved toy gun which cocks and advances a cap-tiring means within the gun by manual `actuation of a lever means secured thereto to simulate the simulate the tanning action of rifles used in early gun history of the Wild West, for greater realism in play.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved toy gun in which simulatedcartridges may be manually inserted and stored to simulate loading of an actual repeater rifle.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide retaining means within the housing for retaining the inserted cartridges against the bias of a spring contained within the barrel portion and in position to be released therefrom and ejected bythe ejection means when elfected by the lever means simultaneous with the tanning action referred to above.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved toy gun in which the realism in play is increased by the ejection of simulated cartridges from the breech of the rifle by actuation of the lever means, simultaneous with `the cocliing action of the cap-ring means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lever action toy gun which includes improved breech cover action whereby the breech cover is elected by the action of the lever means to slide rearwardly and expose the open top of the breech portion to permit ejection of the simulated cartridges through the open top and outwardly of the housing and in which return movement of the lever to' its normal position, similar to its real counterpart, causes the breech cover member to slide forwardly and thereby enclose the open top of the housing, such action being also operative 'during the tanning action.

A 'still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved toy gun which is economical to manufacture, and is capable of mass production and interchangeability of parts thereof.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved toy gun which overcomes disadvantages of prior means and methods heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

' These and other objects will be more apparent by reference to the following drawings, 'detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a side view, in elevation, of a toy gun in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2, showing parts thereof in another position;

FIG. is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view as taken substantially Ialong a line 5 5 .of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 .is a fragmentary top plan view, with parts broken away, thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view, illustrating the cap-firing means in greater detail;

FIG. 8 is la vertical cross-sectional View as taken substantially along a line i8---8` of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is la fragmentary, cross-sectional view, similar to a portion of FIG. 2, showing 1a pawl means pivotally mounted on the lever means of the riile and in a triggerengaging position; and l FIG. l0 is la perspective view, in elevation, illustrating the pawl means of FIG. 9 in greater detail.

Referring'more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration, but not-of limitation, a toy gun generally indicated by the numeral 10, including an intermediate breech portion 1.1 and a forwardly extending barrel portion 1-2. The housing further includes, for added realism, a stock portion 13 including a shoulder piece 14 and a hand support piece 16 integral with the housing. The housing .10 may be formed of any suitable material such as plastics, metal, or the like, and is preferably molded to form a pair of substantially hollow halfmembers a and 10b which are joined and cemented, or othenwise secured together as at a vertical parting line 17 to form a substantially hollow, elongated, integral housing. The barrel portion 12 includes an upper cylindrical .member 1-8, simulating the rifle barrel portion of an actual rifle, and a lower cartridge storage tube 19. rIhe members 18 and 19 may be secured to the barrel portion =16 as by a clamp, indicated at Z1, with the storage tube 19 of the barrel Ihousing 18 extending inwardly of the housing and having an open inner end ZZ and being closed at its outer end as by a cap member 23.

A cap-firing means generally indicated by the numeral 24is disposed within the breech portion 11 of the housing 110 for selectively and intermittently firing caps of a roll of caps Z6 supported within the housing as on a support means 27. The cap-firing means Z4 comprises an anvil means 28 rotatably mounted within the housing breech portion 11 as on a transverse shaft 29 supported at its ends by the housing halves 10a and 10b. The anvil 28 preferably Aincludes a cylindrical drum portion having outwardly extending conical projections 31 for engaging apertures of the perforated strip comprising the cap roll. The cap ro'll 26 extends from its supporting pin 32 of the roll cap suppont means Z7 and over and around the periphery, or an upper portion thereof, of the anvil 28. The strip'is stripped from the bottom portion thereof as by a stripper member 33 tangentially disposed adjacent the anlvil 28 and suitably secured as at 34 to the housing 10. The cap roll support means 27 preferably includes a rearwardly extending extension 36 which oVerlies the anvil 2.8 and tends to keep the strip of caps in close proximity to the anvil 2x8 to prevent inadvertent separation .thereof from the anvil during rotation of the anvil.

The anvil `278 serves to support the strip portion of the cap roll 26 in the path of a reciprocating hammer means 37 for firing of the caps and is adapted to be intermittentlyV rotated, as will be hereinafter described, on its shaft 29 to advance the strip of the cap roll whereby a subsequent charge of explosive is advanced into the path of the hammer means 37 after a previously positioned charge has been detonated. Y

The hammer means 37 is pivotally disposed the breech portion 11 and adjacent the anvil means Z8 and includes a downwardly extending portion 38' pivotally supported on a transverse shaft 39 secured at its ends within the half portions 10a and 10b for arcuate axial movement relative to the housing. The hammer mea-ns 37 includes an upper arcuate portion 41 having a forwardly extending serrated, or otherwise suitably faced, hammer portion 42 adapted to strike the face of the anvil means 28. A torque spring 43 is disposed around the shaft 39 having one end 44 bearing against a transverse boss 46 on the extension 38 of the hammer means, and the other end 47 thereof bearing against a transverse projection of the housing A-10 to bias the hammer means 37 towards the anvil means 2:8 for contact therewith. Ilhe spring 43 is preferably of suicient torque to produce a rapid and sharp impact of the hammer means 37 against the anvil means 2,8 to explode a cap sandwiched therebetween.

'Ihe hammer means 37 is adapted to be engaged and arcuately pivoted by a lever means for cooking, as will hereinafter be described, and is provided with an upwardly extending finger piece 49 for manual engagement thereof for manual cooking of the hammer means whereby the hammer may be manually cocked independently of the lever means, if desired.

The hammer means 3-7 further includes a rearwardly and downwardly extending hook member '51 which, when the hammer means is biased rearwardly against the force of the spring 43, is engageable with an upwardly extending hook portion 52 of a trigger means 53"to retain the hammer means in a cocked position.

The trigger means 53 is pivotally mounted within the housing `10 as on a transverse pin or shaft 54 secured at its ends in the housing half-portions 10a and 10b, and includes a downwardly extending nger'piece 56 (for selective manual engagement thereof as by a digit of the user. A torque spring 57 is mounted within the housing and circumjacent the shaft 54 having one of its ends 58 bearing against aprojection 59` of the housing 10 and its other end 61 bearing against an extension 62 of the trigger means 53 to bias the upper hook portion 52 of the trigger means rearwardly and the downwardly extending linger piece 56 forwardly. The hook portion 52 of the trigger means 53 is adapted to engage the rearwardly extending hook portion 51 of the hammer means 37 to latch the hammer means in a rearward position, when so positioned, as will hereinafter be described, until the finger piecei56 is actuated against the bias of the spring 57 whereby the hook portion 52 is disengaged from the hook portion 51 thereby permitting the spring 43 of the hammer means 37 to bias the hammer means against the anvil means 28 to tire the cap positioned in the path of the hammer 42.

IIn order to cock the hammer means, that is, to arcuately move the hannner means 37 rearwardly into a cocked position in which the hooks 5-1 and 52 are engaged, and to advance the anvil means, thereby to advance a new cap into position to be fired, a lever means generally indicated by the numeral 63 is pivotally secured within the housing 10 at an upwardly extending portion 64 and includes a manually engageable handle portion 66 extending downwardly and outwardly of the housing 10. The lever means 63 includes an arcuate portion 67 forming a guard for the trigger means 53 and an upwardly extending tab `68 at the reanward portion of the handle 66. The handle 66 is adapted to lie in close proximity to the shoulder piece 14 of the rifle ,101 when in a non-actuating position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. To retain the handle '66 in this position, a leaf spring 69 or the like is secured within the stock 13 and includes a hook portion 71 to releasably engage the tab 68.

The lever means 63 includes an upwardly extending offset arm 72 which is adapted to move arcuately in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of arcuate movement of the hammer means 37. When the lever means `63 is pivoted downwardly, or countercloclcwise as viewed in FIG. 2, about the sha-ft 39, the upwardly extending extension 72 is brought into engagement with aV transversely extending pin 73 of the hammer means 37 to impart its arcuate movement to the hammer means whereby the hammer means is pivoted rearwardly to engage the hook 51 with the hook 52 of the trigger means and thereby cock the hammer means. t

, In orderto rotate the anvil means 2S and thereby ad-V Vance the strip of the cap ro'll into a new position, a pawl means is operatively associated with the hammer means and the anvil means. The pawl means 7 4 is pivotally secured as at 76 to the hammer means 37 and includes an annular portion 77 encircling a star-shaped boss or wheel 73 integral with the anvil means 2S. The star wheel 78 of the anvil means 28 includes a plurality of projections 79 engageable with a downwardly extending hook por` `tion, 81 of the pawl 74. When the hammer means 37 is pivoted rearwardly as illustrated in FIG. 4, the pawl 74 is moved rearwardly to engage a projection 79 by the projection 81 to rotate the star 78 and its integral anvil `means 28 until the projection `81 slips off. At this time,

an upwardly extending projection 182. of the pawl 74 is brought against an opposite projection 79 to stop thestar 78 from -further rotation. As the trigger means 53 is actuated to unlatch the hook 52 from the hook 51, and the hammer means 37 moves arcuately to strike` the anvil 23, the pawl is carried forwardly or to the right as viewed in FIGS. 2, 4and 7, to ratchet over the last-engaged projection 79 without imparting a reverse rotation to the anvil 28. t

As will be apparent from the foregoing, description, `when the lever means l63 is pivoted downwardly about `its pivot point 39, the upwardlyextending portion 72 thereof is moved rearwardly to engage the transverse pin 73 of the hammer means 37 to impart movement thereof to the hammer means whereby the hammer means is swung rearwardly to a position `where its integral hook 51 is latohed by an` upwardly extending hook 52 of the trigger means 5.31. As the hammer means 37 is swung rearwardly, pawl means 74` attached thereto engages a star wheel 78 of the anvil means 23 to rotate the anvil means, thereby advancing caps of the ycap roll 26 into a new position whereby an unexploded charge is placed within the path of the hammer 42. Asthe lever 63 is returned to its position, into proximity with the stock 1-3 of the rille 10, the handle portion `66 is latched as by the spring 69-71 and lthe upwardly extending port-ion72 is moved away from the projection 73` of the hammer means 37. To re the cap tiring means 24, the user of the toy gun manually actuates the finger piece 56 of the trigger means 53 to pivot the trigger means about its piyot point 54 whereby the hook member `52 releases the hook member S1, permitting the spring 43 to snap the hammer means 37 towards the anvil means 2S to iire the newly positioned cap.` On its return travel, the pawl means 74 ratchets over the star 718 to place the projection 31 in the path of a succeeding projection 79 whereby the star 78 and its associated anvil 28 will be rotated by a subsequent movement of the lever means `63.

After tiring an actual rifle, the lever means normally actuates an ejection means to eject the last lired and spent cartridge. To add realism of the use of this instant invent tion, provision is made herein whereby downward arcuate and rotatably disposed in an aperture v86 :of the extension projection 91.

72 of the lever means 63. .The rod 86 is bent transversely at its other end =89 adjacent the guide means 84. 'Ihe guide means 84 is generally U-shaped in conliguration, and is provided with a projection 91 extending inwardly and forwardly towards the tube 19. The guide means 84 is provided with an open rearward end to receive manually insertable simulated cartridges 92. The cartridges 92 are .generally cylindrical in oomi-guration and include flanges at the rearward end thereof, as indicated at' 93, which when inserted beyond the projection 91, is brought into abutment therewith as seen in FIG. 2.

The cartridges 92 are manually insertable through the housing I10 and into the guide means by means of a door 94 pivotally and yieldably mounted within the housing to cover an opening 96 in a side wall of the housing portion 10b. The door 94 is biased into a close `position as by a resilient leaf spring 97, or the like, and inoludes an inwardly extending arcuate portion 98 which [forms achute to guide a cartridge during its ejection. To insert a ycartridge 92, the user places the cartridge against the door, swinging the door inwardly, whereby the cartridge may be aligned with the guide means 84 and inserted therein as by the use of a iinger of the user, or the like, until the langeof the cartridge is beyond the A resilient leaf spring 99 is disposed adjacent the guide means f84 and is biased inwardly to press against a cartridge after it has been inserted' to keep the diange 93 `or the cartridge in engagement with the projection 91 of the guide means `84.

A subsequent cartridge may be inserted, its bullet nose being pressed against fthe previously inserted cartridge to force the previously inserted cartridge further into lthe guide means and eventually into the tube member 19 against a spring retainer memjber 101 slidingly disposed within the tube 19. The spring retainer member 1011 is urged towards the guide means by a coiled spring 102 disposed between the spring retainer and the closed end of the cap 23 as best seen in FIG.` 3.

The spring 102 biases the cartridges into engagement with the projection 91, while the spring 99 laterally biases the cartridge to prevent inadvertent displacement from the projection 91. An ejector pin 103 is transversely disposed adjacent the guide :means y84 and is urged outwardly of the guide means `8'4- as by a resilient leaf spring 104 secured to the guide means 84. 'Ihe pin `103` is adapted to move inwardly through an aperture 106 of the guide means 284 when actuated by a rearward movement of Vthe transverse portion y89 of the rod 86 when the rod 86 is moved linearly rearwardly by l`downward actuation of the lever means 63 causing rearward movement of `the extension 72 thereof. Asbest seen in FIG. 5, the

transverse portion `89 is brought into contact with the head 107 of the pin 103 to urge the pin inwardly through the aperture 106 of the guide means 84 and against the bias of the spring 104 to ldisplace a last inserted cartridge from the projection 91 whereby the spring `102 within the tube 19 biases the cartridge outwardly of the guide member '34 into the chute 98.

In `order to eject the cartridge outwardly of the housing, the housing is provided with an open top 108 which is covered as by breech cover member generally referred to by the numeral 109.

The breech oover member 109 is slidingly disposed on the breech portion -1'1 of the housing 10 -for longitudinal linear movement thereon to open and close the open top 108 of the housing portion 11. The breech cover member y109 comprises a pair of `discrete axially displaceable for-wand and rearward members 111 and 112, respectively, the lforward member 111 being adapted to be manually and selectively longitudinally moved into an overlying relationship with Ythe rearward member 112, `as will be hereinafter described.

`longitudinally opposing grooves 1'14 of the menibers a and 10b, 'for longitudinal back-and-forth movement therein relative to the housing 10. The member 111 further includes a downwardly extending lateral flange 1116 which is adapted to abut an upwardly extending lateral ilange I117 out the rearward breech cover member 112.

'I'he rearward breech member 1112 is similarly pro- `vided with laterally extending longitudinal ribs 118 which 10. Thelbreech cover member 112 further includes an integral resilient, centrally-located iinger piece 121` which includes an upwardly extending tabA portion 122 abutting the rearward fare of the flange 116 of the covermember 11-1 to retain the flange 1116 and thereby releasably securing the members 11-1 and 112 'for simultaneous movement when uncovering or covering the lopen top 108.

The breech cover member 109 is actuated for longitudinal movement by arcuate movement vof the lever means 63. The upwardly extending extension 72 includes an yenlarged portion at its upper end 123 which is engageable with a downwardly extending yoke portion 124 integral with, or attached to, the breech cover member 112, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. The yoke member 124 comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced vertical ribs which span the upper enlarged portion 123 of the ex- Itension 72 whereby lthe arcuate motion of the lever means 63 is translated into a linear motion of the breech cover member 109. As the lever means 63 is pivoted down wardly, .the extension 72 is pivoted rearwardly to slide the breech cover member 109 rearwardly and thereby expose the open top 108 whereby the cartridge which has been ejected into the chute continues outwardly of the housing to simulate the ejection of a cartridge in an actual riile. The linear motion of fthe breech cover member 109 is timed so it is almost :at the end of its rearward travel when the transverse portion 89 of the vrod 86 contacts the head 107 of the pin 103 to displace the cartridge from the projection 91 whereby the spring 102 pushes the last inserted cartridge .into the chute 98 outwardly of the housing 10 through the open top 108.

Provision is made for easily and quickly reloading the oap roll within .the cap roll support means. When the lever means y63 is in its downward position, thereby moving the breech member 109 into its rearmost position, as seen in FIG. 4, the forward breech cover member 111 may be slid rearwardly in overlying relationship relative to the rearward breech vcover member 112 by manually pressing downwardly on the finger piece 121 to remove the rtab 122 thereof from the path of the downwardly extending flange 11-6 whereby the forward breech cover member 111 may be manually slid rearwardly over the member 112 -to expose a greater portion of fthe open top 108, permitting the user to manually pivot the roll cap means 27 outwardly about its pivot point 126, against the bias of a torque spring 1-27, to a position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4. In this position', the portion of the roll cap support means 27 having the transverse pin 32 is exposed outwardly of the body 10 and a new cap roll like 26 may be inserted over the pin 32. The free end of the cap roll may then 'be wrapped over the anvil means 28 in such manner whereby the apertures of the cap roll coincide with the projections 31 thereof. Thereafter, the support means 27 may be released andflowered into its normal cap feeding position and cap retaining position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 8.

It is desired to cock the hammer means 37 independently of the lever means 63, theuser may engage the nger .piece 49' with a nger or thumb and draw the hammer means rearwardly until the hook portion 51 latches with the hook portion 52 of thertrigger means 53. Such movement Yof themember L12 relative tothe housing Y arcuate movement imparted by the linger causes the pawl means 74 to rotate the anvil means 28, thereby advancing the cap roll 26 to a new unexploded position and cooking 'the hammer into a position ready to be lfired by manu-al actuation of the linger piece 56 of the trigger means 53 as previously described.

It is further possible, in the instant invention, to 'operate the cap-tiring means 24 independently of the lever means 63. By manually holding the trigger means v53 in a position disengaging the hooks 51, 52, so as to free vthe hammer means 37 thereof, the hammer may be rapidly actuated by the engagement of the palm of a hand with the finger piece 49 of the hammer, in a tanning action, to `draw the hammer back into cocked position and Vreleasing it toV be Yspring biased by the spring 43 to' tire a cap on the anvil 28. As the hammer 37 is successively pivoted rearwardly in the tanning action, the cap strip is advanced on the anvil by the action of the pawl 74 to position a new cap on the Ianvil in the line of impact of the hammer 37. The breech cover member 109 will be inoperative, as will the rod 86 connected to the `connector means 84, whereby, during the fanning action, only fthe cap-firing means is actuated, independently of the lever means, the slide means and the cartridge-ejecting means.

In addition, this invention includes means whereby th cap-tiring means may be selectively automatically actuated bythe trigger means upon return of -the lever `means 63 into its position adjacent .to the housing, wherein the `breech cover member 109 and the ejector means 83 are actuated in the normal manner described above.

For this purpose, a `selective 'trigger release, in the form votVa pawl 130, is pivotally secured as by a fastener, in

the formof a rivet 131, or the like, through a boss i132 of the handle 66 for pivotal movement into a triggerclearing position, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and a trigger-engaging position, illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 2 and insolid line in FIG. 9.

The pawl includes an arm 133 having an aperture 134 extending therethrough for receivingthe rivet 131 and a .transverse tab porti-on 136 engageable with the trigger 56 when in a trigger-engaging position.

When the pawl 130 is in the trigger-clearing position, no contact is made between the tab 136 and the trigger 56 when the lever 63 is returned to its normal position adjacent .to its housing 11. In this position, theftab 136 is positioned .adjacent to a transverse portion 137 of the handle portion 66 in which lit is clear of the trigger 56 during its pivotal movement.

In the trigger-engaging position, the tab 136is pivoted forwardly until the tab abuts the trigger guide 67, a position slightly rearward of the trigger 56, as best seen in FIG. 2. The pawl 130 is more advantageously pivoted into this position after the lever 63 is separated from the housing Iin order that no interference exists between the trigger 56 and the tab 136 until the lever is in its return pivotal movement, towards the housing. As the'lever is returned, the rtab 136 engages the trigger 56 to pivot the trigger means 53 into a position wherein the hooks 51 and 52, of the hammer 37 and trigger means 53, respectively, are disengaged, as best seen inFIG. 9. The hammer 37 is released, without direct manual manipulation of .the trigger 53, to cause the hammer 37 to be biased forwardly, by its spring 43, into impact with the capstrip to explode the last advanced cap on the `anvil 28. Subsequent pivotal movement of ythe lever means 63-in its downward, away from the housing, pivotal movement, causes the breech cover member 109 to move linearly in a rearward direction to expose the opening 108 of the breech, the cartridge ejector means 83 to eject a cartridge 92, outwardly of the housing through vthe opening 108, and the pawl 74 to advance the anvil 28 .and therebyto advance a cap of the cap roll 26 thereon and pivot the hammer means 37 rearwardly to its cocked position with the hooks 51-52 in engagement. Return pivotal move ment of the lever 63 to its position, adjacent to the housing 11, again causes the tab 136 to engage the trigger cap. By this means, the rifle cam may be rapidly oper- `ated by solely pivoting the lever 63 downwardly and back in rapid succession.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made .there-from within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so `as to embrace any and all equiva lent methods and apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy lever action gun comprising: a housing simulating .a rifle; cap-tiring means in said housing and including a trigger means and a hammer means, said hammer means being positionable into engagement with said trigger means forcocking thereof, and releasable by said trigger lmeans tor tiring of caps; llever means pivotally mounted in said housing and including a handle portion extending outwardly of said housing and adjacent to said trigger means, said lever means being manually pivotable into positions away from and adjacent to said housing and operatively associated with said captiring means so as to cock said hammer means when positioned away from said housing; and pawl means on said lever means and selectively posit-ionable between a trigger-clearing position and a position for engaging said trigger means during pivotal movement of said lever means into a position adjacent to said housing so as to actuate said trigger means to release said hammer means for firing the cap in response to movement of said lever means into said last-mentioned position thereof.v

2. A toy lgun, as defined in claim 1, wherein said pawl means is selectively positionable so as to clear said trigger means vduring pivotal movement of said lever means into sa-id position adjacent said housing and said trigger means is manually operable to release said hammer means for ring of the cap when said lever means is in said lastmentioned position.

3. A toy gun, as defined .in claim 1, wherein said capiiring means is independently, manually operable when said lever means is in said position `adjacent to said housing and said pawl means is in said trigger-engaging position, wherebyl said trigger means is held in non-engaging position with said hammer means.

4. A toy gun, as defined in claim 2, wherein said hammer means is independently, manually operable into a cocked position when said pawl means is in said triggerclearing position.

5. A rtoy gun, as delined in claim 1, including means dening an open top on said housing; a cover member slidingly dispo-sed on said housing for linear longitudinal movement thereon; and means positively connecting said lever means and said cover member so as to translate pivotal movement of said lever means into linear movement of said cover member for selectively covering and uncovering said open top.

6. A toy gun, as dened in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a hollow barrel portion extending therefrom; cartridge means insertable into said barrel portion; releasable cartridge-holding means adjacent said barrel portion `for retaining said cartridge means longitudinally in said barrel portion; releasing means `connected to said lever means and respons-ive to pivotal movement of said lever means for releasing said cartridge holding means, and ejector means in said housing and responsive to actuation of said releasing means for ejecting said cartridge means from said barrel portion and outwardly of said housing.

7. A toy gun, as dened in claim wherein said housing includes a hollow barrel portion extending therefrom; cartridge means slidingly 4insertable into said barrel portion; releasable cartridge-holding means for retaining cartridges longitudinally in said barrel portion; releasing means connected to said -lever means and responsive to pivotal movement of said lever means tor releasing said cartridge-holding means; and ejector means in said housing and responsive to `actuation of said releasing means for ejecting said cartridge means trom said barrel portion and outwardly, tranversely, through said open top of said housing, said open top beinguncovered by said cover member when said cartridge means is ejected.

8. A toy gun, yas defined in claim 6, wherein said capfiring means is independently, manually oper-able when said lever means is in said position adjacent to said housing `and said pawl means is in said trigger-engaging position,

where-by sa-id trigger means is held in non-engaging position relative to said hammer means.

9. A toy gun, Ias detined in claim 6, wherein said hammer means .is independently manually operable into a cocked position when said pawl means is in said triggerclearing position.

10. A toy gun, vas -dened in claim 7, wherein said capiiring means is independently manually operable when said lever means is in said position adjacent to said housing and said pawl means is in said trigger-engaging position, said trigger means being held in non-engaging position relative to said hammer means.

11. A toy gun, as dened in claim 7, wherein said hammer means is independently manually operable into av cocked position when said pawl means is in said triggerclearing position.

12. A lever action toy gun, comprising: a housing simulating a rifle; cap-firing means in said housing and positionable Iinto cocked and cap tiring positions, manually operable lever means p-ivotally mounted on said housing for pivotal movement relative to said housing; means responsive to pivotal movement of said lever means in one direction `for positioning said cap-tiring means into a cocked position; and means responsive to pivotal movement of said lever means in an opposite direction for automatically lactuating said cap-tiring means into a cap tiring position for firing a percussive cap.

13. A toy gun, as deiined in claim l2, wherein said housing includes -a hollow barrel portion extending therefrom; Icartridge means slidingly -insertable into said barrel portion; releasable cartridge-holding means for retaining said cartridge means longitudinally in said barrel portions; releasing means connected to said lever means and responsive -to pivotal movement of said lever means in said one direction for releasing said lcartridge holding means; and ejector means in said housing and responsive to actuation of said releasing means for ejecting said cartridge means from said barrel portion and outwardly of said housing.

14. A toy gun, as dened in claim 12, wherein said last means is selectively positionable into a non-operative posi-tion and wherein a trigger means is provided, said trigger means being manually operable to release said cap-tiring means for tiring 1of the cap= after pivotal movement of said lever means in said opposite direction.

l5. A toy gun, as defined in claim 12, wherein said capring means is independently, manually operable when said lever means has completed its pivotal movement in said opposite direction.

16. In a toy lever action gun which comprises a housing Isimulating a rie, sound producing means in the housing of =a type including a member capable of `being cocked and including trigger means for actuating the sound producing means, lever means pivotally mounted in the housing yand extending outwardly of the housing and adjacent Ito the trigger means, the lever means being manually pivotable into position away from and adjacent to the housing and operatively associated with the sound producing means so as to `cock the sound producing means when positioned away from the housing, the improvement compri-sing: Iactuator means on the lever means and selectively positionable between an engageable position and la nonengageable position, said actuator means engaging, only when in said engageable position, with the 1 1 trigger means during Apivotalfmovement of the -lever means into the position ladjacent to the housing so as to actuate the trigger ymeans fto operate the sound producing means. 17. An improved gun as in yclaimy 16, lbut wherein said ,actuator means on the lever is so formed and arranged `thatI it yremains selectively positioned in said engagea-ble position during pivotal movement of the lever means away from yas weld `as toward the housing, whereby rapid repeat fire action may be achieved `by oscillating the lever means.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Brandon NOV. 12, 1940 Ahmanson 1 Dec. 11, 1951 Brown et a1. Nov. 26, 1957 Haley 1 Sep-n30, 1958 Nichols Mar. 26, 1959 Long u Aug. 4, 1959 

12. A LEVER ACTION TOY GUN, COMPRISING: A HOUSING SIMULATING A RIFLE; CAP-FIRING MEANS IN SAID HOUSING AND POSITIONABLE INTO COCKED AND CAP FIRING POSITIONS, MANUALLY OPERABLE LEVER MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION FOR POSITIONING SAID CAP-FIRING MEANS INTO A COCKED POSITION; AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER MEANS IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATING SAID CAP-FIRING MEANS INTO A CAP FIRING POSITION FOR FIRING A PERCUSSIVE CAP
 13. A TOY GUN, AS DEFINED IN CLAIM 12, WHEREIN SAID HOUSING INCLUDES A HOLLOW BARREL PORTION EXTENDING THEREFROM; CARTRIDGE MEANS SLIDINGLY INSERTABLE INTO SAID BARREL PORTION; RELEASABLE CARTRIDGE-HOLDING MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID BARREL PORTIONS; RELEASING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION FOR RELEASING SAID CARTRIDGE HOLDING MEANS; AND EJECTOR MEANS IN SAID HOUSING AND RESPONSIVE TO ACTUATION OF SAID RELEASING MEANS FOR EJECTING SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS FROM SAID BARREL PORTION AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING. 